Code of Massachusetts Regulations
515 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE
Title 515 CMR 7.00 - Long Term Retention and Preservation of Evidence by Governmental Entities
Section 7.02 - Definitions

Biological Evidence. Samples of biological material-such as hair, tissue, bones, teeth, blood, semen, or other bodily fluids-or evidence items containing biological material. 1

Breathable/Porous Container. Packaging through which liquids or vapors may pass (e.g., paper bags and cloth bags). 1

Chain of Custody. Identification of the person or agency having custody of evidence and the place where that evidence is kept, in chronological order from the time evidence is collected to its destruction. A formal, written process that records the persons having custody of evidence from initial point of receipt or custody by a representative of a law enforcement agency to its final disposition by the agency. The record also reflects the dates and reasons evidence is transferred from one location or person to another.

Combustible Liquid. Any liquid that has a closed cup flashpoint at or above 37.8/C (100/F). 2

Contamination. The unwanted transfer of material from another source to a piece of physical evidence. 1

Degradation. The transition from a higher to a lower level of quality. 1

Designated Evidence Personnel. The individual(s) who receives, inventories, packages, labels or transports evidence and who has access to evidence storage areas.

Evidence. Material, regardless of form, which is received by an agency for the purpose of obtaining information relevant to a criminal investigation. 3

Evidence Custodian. The person who is responsible for evidence processing in a given location (e.g., property and evidence room, hospital, court, crime laboratory). This person can be an evidence collector or handler as well.

Evidence Packaging. The manner in which items with potential evidentiary value are wrapped, bagged, or boxed to be preserved, documented, and labeled. 1

Evidence Storage Area. A secure limited access location or designation to store evidence with the proper climate control.

Flammable Liquid. A liquid that has a closed cup flashpoint below 37.8/C (100/F).

FTATM. An absorbent cellulose based paper that contains four chemical substances to protect DNA molecules from degradation and preserve the paper from bacterial growth. 4

Long Term Storage. The evidence retention period for a period of time that a person remains in the custody of the Commonwealth or under parole or probation supervision in connection with that crime, without regard to whether the evidence or biological material was introduced at trial.

NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology. 5

Non-toxicological Biological Evidence. Samples that are biological in nature such as hair, tissue, bones, teeth, blood, semen, salvia, skin cells or other body fluids as well as items of evidence potentially containing biological materials.

Packaging. Container used to house individual items of evidence. 1

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Items used to prevent an individual's direct contact with blood borne) pathogens. PPE includes disposable gloves, disposable overalls, disposable shoe covers, laboratory coats, masks, and eye protection. 1

Quality Control. Activities designed according to established standards that are used to ensure the quality of analytical data and to ensure this data satisfies specified criteria. 4

Toxicological Biological Evidence. Samples such as blood, urine, vitreous humor, gastric contents, tissues and other body fluids from either ante (operating under the influence) or post mortem (autopsy) cases. 1

References:

1 The Biological Evidence Preservation Handbook: Best Practices for Evidence Handlers www.nist.gov/forensics/upload/NIST-IR-7928.pdf

2 National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations 2014

3 Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory. Quality Assurance Manual QAMS-D001-v4.0

4 Butler, John M. Forensic DNA Typing: Biology, Technology, and Genetics of STR Markers. Elsevier 2005

5 Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory. DNA Unit Administrative Manual DNA-D300-v3.0